THE COURTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 119, 17 June 1909, Page 2

THE COURTS.

A NEW ARRIVAL'S .CRIME. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington. Last Xight. A young man named Stephen .Kotze was "charged on four informations at the S.M. Court to-day with obtaining AM Ifis by false pretences. Accused had represented himself as an insurance agent and accepted money as premiums'. Accused's counsel said his client had been driven' to the offence by force of circumstances. Kotze was a native of Capetown, and had lieen lured to New Zealand by reports as to the prosperity of this Dominion. He emigrated with a young wife and baby, but on arrival ilid not find things as had lieen represented. After much trouble he obtained employment as an insurance canvasser. His commissions averaged t!2 7s per week. This he found insufficient to keep himself and family, and. driven to desperation committed the offences be was now charged with.

Hi* Worship said that \vliili> lip was nlway ready to give n elnnice lo first .dl'enders. in this case there was more Ulan mil' lapse and a penalty nmst l>e iiuposcil. Ill' would line him ,i2 on e:ieh of two of the chiiru'cs anil .CI 0:1 the third, lie was also ordered to refund the money lie had neeeptcd. Default in eaeli ease was fixed at fourteen day-' iiiiprisininicut. Kotzc was also charged with a more serious' oll'enee of forging the name of Joseph Charlton to a bonus form on a policy issued by the (ioverninent Life Insurance Department. The value of the bonus was C.)2. Accused pleaded guilty ami was remanded lo the Supreme Court for sentence.